Most people know her as Lt. Anita Van Buren from television's Law
and Order. Others may also know her as Reba the Mail Lady from the
series Pee-wee's Playhouse. However, Washington theatergoers know
S. Epatha Merkerson from the various stage roles she has performed in the
D.C. area.

A native of Detroit, Ms. Merkerson earned her BFA degree at
Wayne State University. She then made her way to New York and eventually
settled in the Washington, D.C. Metro area. Ms. Merkerson now resides
part-time in the D.C. area and part-time in New York.

Throughout her
distinguished career, Ms. Merkerson has performed in feature film,
television and stage productions, including Lady Day at Emerson's Bar
and Grill, The Piano Lesson (which earned her a Tony nomination
for Best Actress), and The Old Settler, for which she won The 1999
Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Resident Play.

For the second year, Ms. Merkerson will be acting as the
Mistress of Ceremonies at the 2001 Helen Hayes Awards. With the
ceremonies just around the corner, Ms. Merkerson took some time to speak
with Talkin' Broadway about hosting the awards and about her impressive career.

Tracy Lyon: How did the opportunity to be the Mistress of
Ceremonies come about?

S. Epatha Merkerson: Well, I did a show
here about three years ago, and of course I had known of the Helen Hayes
Awards from doing The Piano Lesson back in the early '90s. But when I
did the show here, they asked me, would I be interested in presenting, and
I [said], "Oh yeah, that would be great." So I presented the year I did
the show. And then the following year they just asked if I would be
willing to host it, which I thought was so cool. I think it really came
from the fact that I had done some theater in the area and I live in the
area.

TL: As a former recipient, how does it feel to be up there
as the host?

SEM: It's a lot easier than sitting out there
waiting for that envelope to open up! (laughs)

TL: (laughs) I am sure it is!

SEM: It's fun. This
is my second year doing it, and it's just a great evening. And I have a
lot of fun doing it.

TL: I understand you come to D.C. by way of
Detroit and New York. How did you come to settle here?

SEM:
Well, I married and at the time my husband was working for the D.C.
Government. And it was just a lot easier for me to do the commuting than
for him. And since I'm based in New York, I am the one that does the back
and forth movement.

TL: Of course, we know that you have
performed here in D.C. and also in New York. Do you find that there is a
difference between performing here and in New York?

SEM: Well,
not really. I think what I found here was theater as professional as any
theater in New York. I think that is what's interesting and exciting,
that although New York for a lot of actors is the ultimate place to go,
there is viable and extraordinary theater in the regions. So, I think
this Helen Hayes opportunity gives the community a chance to see this
incredible theater. And from my coming here in the early '90s and doing a
play till now, it has grown tremendously. So, certainly there is the
difference between doing the Broadway show and the dreams of actors but in
terms of good theater, you can find it here as well.

TL: As you
mentioned, you previously won the Helen Hayes Award (for the portrayal of
Elizabeth in The Old Settler). In regard to your portrayal of
Elizabeth in The Old Settler, what attracted you to that
role?

SEM: Just the simplicity of it and the characterizations
of the two sisters. The time period. It's well written. All of those
things. And I had the time. And it had been a while since I had been on
stage, and an old friend of mine had been asked to direct it. So, it just
seemed to be the right thing to do, and I had a great time doing it.

TL: Do you find that you have a preference between doing film
work, television work or theater?

SEM: I love the theater. If I
had the opportunity, I would be doing more of it. I think each medium has
merit. You have different ways of working in each. Some are more
profitable than others. But that's where I come from - I come from the
theater. So, my heart will always be there first.

TL: Do you
find that you connect in a different way with the characters you are
portraying?

SEM: Between theater and television?

TL:
Yes.

SEM: The thing about it is I'm in sort of an odd situation
in that I am on a show that's lasted a long time. That's not always the
case. So, I've had an opportunity to grow with Van Buren and to learn
more and more about the character. You would also be able to do that in
the theater in the rehearsal process [which] is much longer. And
television - I'll get a script today, I'll start working on it on Tuesday,
we'll rehearse it two or three times for camera blocking and so forth, go
change my clothes, come back, and we put it on. And that's it. The
theater, if you want to do something different, you have the opportunity
in the next performance to make that change. So, the expediency of
television to get things on the air, doesn't allow you to sort of
luxuriate in specifics. You know, you have to look at everything overall,
make decisions quickly, and then you're stuck with it. In theater you
have the opportunity ... you make a decision one night and maybe change
your mind the next as long as it's within the boundaries of what you're
doing.

TL: You mentioned your character Lt. Van Buren from
Law and Order and we know you from many other television and film
roles. Do you find that you are drawn to a specific character trait when
you're considering the roles that you are going to portray?

SEM:
Not necessarily. I think it has more to do with how people see me.
Especially when it comes to television and film. How people view me.
Because some people don't think I have a sense of humor. (laughs) You
know, because Van Buren is sort of a no-nonsense, straight-from-the-hip
kind of woman, where I'm not that person. So, it works both ways. It's
kind of blessing and curse, you know. And until I go in to meet people,
and they see me, then they'll know what kind of person I am and what kind
of actor I can be. But I think that we all are sometimes guilty of
believing that a person is who we think they are from television.

TL: Do you have a favorite role?

SEM: Actually, I
don't. There isn't a favorite role that I've done. There are some that I
enjoyed the experience more than others. I had a great time on Old
Settler,, I had a great time in The Piano Lesson, and there have
been some small things I have done Off-Broadway and Off Off-Broadway that I
have great memories from. There's no one character I look forward to
playing. You know, I'm open. I enjoy working. So, whatever comes my way,
I'll look at it, and if I find something interesting in it for me, then I
tend to go for it.

TL: Throughout your career, which has been
quite substantial, have you found that roles for African-American women
have improved or do you think the industry still has a way to go?

SEM: Oh, I certainly think it has a way to go. Certainly, when
you look at the fact that I have been on the air eight years, that says a
lot. I think that there's also been a huge change in who's producing.
African-American women are writing and producing. Kasi Lemmons has been
doing great things - Caveman's Valentine, Eve's Bayou.
There are women that are doing things that they weren't able to do before.
Producing and writing their own things. So, absolutely, there's a change.
But you know, there is always room for improvement.

TL: Have you
ever had any ambitions to do any writing or producing?

SEM: I
think I would probably like to produce. I am not interested in writing or
directing. It's probably because I have control issues. (laughs) And the
producer is in control of everything! (laughs) If I may be candid and
honest here, I have control issues! (laughs) I think that is probably
where my talent would lie.

TL: Finally, do you see yourself back
on the D.C. stages anytime soon?

SEM: I hope so. I really do
hope so. I'm sort of actively trying to find things that interest me.
And once I come across something, I'll see where I can go. But,
absolutely, I like the area, I like the theater people in the area, and I
would like to do that again.

The Helen Hayes Awards will take place on
Monday, May 7th. For more information, visit the Helen Hayes Awards
website at www.helenhayes.org